Mitsubishi develops new “green” material

by Jil - March 10, 2011

Tokyo, Japan – Mitsubishi has developed a new addition to its “Green Plastic” plant-based lineup, an interior surface material that combines polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and cotton fibres. It is scheduled to be commercially available this summer and will initially be used for vehicle seats.

Automakers generally used petroleum-based materials, such as PET fibres, due to their durability and flame-retardant nature. The new material uses a PET fibre base but has knitted-in cotton fibre, and is able to attain the high standards required for auto parts with its effective original structural design and a flame-retardant treatment.

Mitsubishi said that its preliminary calculations show that over the material’s life cycle, from attaining the raw materials to its disposal, the new fabric reduces CO2 emissions by about 20 per cent when compared to 100 per cent PET.

Other “green” materials used by the company include those made with bamboo fibre and liquefied wood phenol resin.